Category: General

MANILA: A total of 3,826 members of 28 farmers’ cooperatives and associations stand to benefit from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) PHP5-million Kadiwa project in Limay, Bataan.

In a statement on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the project, which includes the construction of a permanent Kadiwa store, will be favorable to both farmers and consumers.

‘A permanent Kadiwa store in Limay promises affordable, fresh, and safe food for local consumers while providing farmers with increased income opportunities,” he said.

Under the project, PHP1 million worth of trading capital will also be provided for the Kadiwa center.

Besides the permanent Kadiwa store project, Laurel also cited agricultural promotion at the barangay level through the Zero Kilometer Food Project (Zero KM), a healthy eating initiative using local produce.

‘By promoting agriculture at the barangay level, we create efficient systems that ensure food reaches consumers without delay, nutrient loss, cost overruns,
price manipulation, or unnecessary intermediaries,” he said.

He added that Zero KM seeks to address the local demand and supply system.

“This grassroots approach fosters a deeper understanding, better planning, and effective management of our food systems,’ Laurel said.

With the DA’s presence, the Limay local government unit signed a memorandum of agreement on the Zero KM with the Bataan Peninsula State University, and Limay Polytechnic College.

Zero KM was earlier launched in Hermosa and Dinalupihan.

Laurel, meanwhile, participated in the launching of other projects in Limay including the Limay Invests for Farmers’ Triumph (LIFT), and the unveiling of the Anthony Villanueva Farm’s drip-fertigation system, among others.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN: City Mayor Rolando Uy on Thursday created the Cagayan de Oro Special Task Force (TF) for Water Supply and Distribution to address supply issues affecting residents.

The task force will conduct a fact-finding investigation on the conditions of the city’s water supply and distribution and shall study and review possible intervention by the city government in the ongoing conflict between the city-run Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) and third-party supplier Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI).

“I would like to assure the public that our office and the city hall are ready with our contingency plans. We have also called on others to help us (with our problem),” Uy said.

Heading the TF is 2nd District Councilor Edgar Cabanlas, who argued that the contract between COWD and COBI is “disadvantageous to the city” as it allows COBI to impose an incremental PHP3 increase in water rates every three years.

In contrast, Cabanlas said COWD needs to secure approval for the increase from the Local Water Util
ities Administration.

“The task force will meet Friday afternoon (March 8) to discuss our legal options while the council will review the contract. If the council sees that the contract is disadvantageous, then we will initiate action to revoke, annul, or cancel the contract,” Cabanlas said.

In a City Council Committee of a Whole hearing, Cabanlas invited various stakeholders, including officials and representatives from COWD and COBI.

The issue stemmed from COBI advising COWD of a “disconnection of service” for failing to pay the balance of PHP426.8 million.

Through videoconferencing, COBI senior legal officer Rob Rodrigo told the City Council that the bulk water company stands in their decision to cut its water supply to COWD since they have already invested a total of PHP1.4 billion in infrastructure improvements and maintenance.

In a separate statement, COBI underscored the importance of COWD ensuring the “timely payment of its monthly invoices and its adherence to its contractual obligations for the
continued provision of essential water services.”

“Despite diligent efforts to maintain a cooperative partnership, COBI expresses deep concern regarding COWD’s persistent delays and disregard of contractual obligations,” COBI said.

COBI said prolonged and chronic delays of COWD in settling monthly invoices, exceeding the contractual timeframe by around 30 to 45 days, has created challenges for the company and its ability to fulfill its financial obligations to banks and suppliers.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Two lawmakers on Thursday called for the immediate passage of the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers following the death of two Filipino seafarers in a recent attack by Houthi rebels on a cargo vessel off Yemen.

House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairperson and Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo said the proposed legislation has crucial provisions prohibiting shipowners or manning agencies from waiving their liability and responsibility in covering all costs related to the repatriation, transport of personal effects and remains of seafarers, and mandating financial security in case of abandonment of seafarers.

“I strongly condemn the attack perpetrated by the Houthi rebels against a merchant vessel navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that led to the tragic death of two Filipino seafarers and injured several other crew members, including two Filipinos who sustained severe wounds,” Salo said.

“Now, more than ever, the immediate enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is
paramount,” he added.

Salo called on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to provide immediate assistance for the repatriation of the victims’ remains, as well as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to assist and support the bereaved families and the injured Filipino crew members.

He also appealed to the United Nations, world powers and other international organizations to take prompt measures to deter any recurrence of such attacks.

OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, for her part, said such tragedy shows the necessity to pass the charter for seafarer rights to ensure the protection of the welfare of Filipino seafarers, particularly their right to humane working conditions and just compensation.

“Ang ganitong mga trahedya ay nagpapakita ng panganib sa trabaho na kinakaharap ng ating mga marino at sa kahalagahan ng agarang pagpasa ng Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers upang mapangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan, pati ng kanilang pamilya sa pana
hon ng mga krisis (This kind of tragedy shows the workplace hazards that our seafarers face and the urgency to pass the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers to safeguard their welfare and their families in times of crisis),” she said.

Magsino said the proposed law will ensure that Filipino seafarers experience a safe and secure workplace that adheres to safety standards.

She said ship owners should also be held liable in case they neglected the threat of traversing high risk areas, such as the Gulf of Aden.

The bill covers Filipino seafarers ‘who are employed or engaged or work in any capacity on board foreign-registered ships and Philippine-registered ships operating internationally.’

According to the measure, Filipino seafarers have a right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards; fair terms and conditions of employment; decent working and living conditions on board a ship; health protection, welfare measures, medical care; self-organization; information about seafarer’s family;
against discrimination; educational advancement and training; relevant information; free legal representation; appropriate grievance mechanism; access to communication; fair treatment in case of a maritime accident; and fair medical assessment, among others.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed support for Australia’s possible inclusion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a member-state.

Marcos said he was open to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ebrahim’s idea of allowing Australia to join ASEAN.

‘Well, I cannot see why that would not be a good idea. Australia has already been a very active part of ASEAN,’ Marcos said in a media interview in Melbourne, Australia.

‘And for all intents and purposes, really, in all but name, they are already members of ASEAN. Yes, I think they would be very welcome to join ASEAN,’ he added.

The statement came, after Canberra’s successful hosting of the ASEAN-Special Summit to commemorate their 50th anniversary of dialogue relations.

Australia became ASEAN’s first dialogue partner in 1974.

Australia considers ASEAN as its key trading partner, expecting its two-way trade with the regional bloc to reach USD400 billion by 2040, an increase from the USD178 billion posted in 2022.

The
current ASEAN member-states are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Timor-Leste was admitted “in principle” in 2022 as the regional bloc’s 11th member but its full membership remains pending. It applied to become an official ASEAN member-state in 2011.

ASEAN was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said 8.7 million deposit accounts have already been signed up with digital banks.

BSP Director Melchor Plabasan said in a press chat Wednesday these deposit accounts were registered with six digital banks operating in the country, which represent 7 percent of the total Philippine banks.

Plabasan said two out of the six digital banks are currently recording profits from their operations.

‘There are two among the six banks that are profitable, but the expectation is that it would take around five to seven years before a digital bank becomes profitable,’ he said.

He added that these figures are aligned with the global numbers, as only 5 percent of digital banks across the world are registering profits.

‘So, we are expecting that there will be losses, but we don’t expect that some will be out of the red already, probably even before the five to seven years,’ Plabasan said.

The BSP is expected to release an industry report next month on the performance of digital
banks in the country.

‘Essentially we are looking at first the impact of these digital banks to the overall financial system and in terms of their contribution to our financial institutions,’ Plabasan said.

Meanwhile, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said the central bank is looking into opening up the sector by issuing more licenses for digital bank operations.

‘We’re trying to figure out how the new licenses will help with the new digital bank that has a different business model that has to be tested in the Philippines. Usually, they’ve been tested abroad. Whether this business model will also work in the Philippines,’ Remolona said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with female full-time NA deputies, leaders and managers of the NA Office and the Institute of Legislative Research, on the occasion of the 114th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8) and the 1,984th anniversary of Hai Ba Trung (Trung Sisters)’s Uprising.

In his speech, NA Chairman Hue said the positive outcomes of the legislature’s recent activities, especially those during the first half of its 15th tenure, partly came from the relentless efforts and significant contributions of female deputies, leaders, civil servants and employees at the NA Office and the institute.

Highlighting a remarkable milestone, he underscored that the 15th NA term witnessed the highest proportion of female deputies in the past ten terms, reaching 30.26%. This achievement has garnered praise from numerous parliamentary bodies worldwide.

He hailed female deputies for actively studying documents, voicing quality and insightful opinions at the NA meetings, and leverag
ing their strengths to better perform gender equality policies.

According to him, they have held numerous practical activities that served as a platform to share experience in parliamentary skills and learn from their foreign counterparts at multilateral and bilateral forums.

On the occasion, he called for fully grasping the Politburo’s Resolution on women’s work during the country’s industrialisation and modernisation, the Directive of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on continuing to enhance women’s work in the new situation while effectively realising the national strategy on gender equality for the 2021-2030 period.

Concluding his speech, he believed that female deputies will build on the past achievements and make even greater contributions to the NA’s activities, toward celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Vietnamese NA in 2026./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency